Keady capture Markey Cup after extra-time
January 31, 2025
St Patrick’s, Keady capture Markey Cup after extra-time thriller
Danske Bank Markey Cup final
St Columb’s, Derry 1-10 St Patrick’s, Keady 2-8 (after extra-time)
A goal in the last minute of extra-time from Jack Loughran brought a dramatic end to this Danske Bank Markey Cup final in Greencastle on Friday evening.
The cup seemed to be slipping from their grip moments before half-time in extra-time after Tiarnan McFeely had fired to the net soccer-style to give St Columb’s a 1-9 to 1-5 lead in a low-scoring game. It looked to be enough to see St Columb’s to their first title since 2019.
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However, just as the south Armagh school had staged a late comeback to take the Casement Cup hurling title before Christmas, their footballers rose from the floor with three unanswered points to leave the minimum between the teams. Then, hurling captain Loughran drove to the net when a high ball in came off a defender.
The game had gone to extra-time in dramatic fashion as well with a point from McFeely in the fourth minute of added time. St Columb’s hadn’t been ahead in ordinary time.
The first score of the game was a rather fortunate goal, Sean óg McNaughton’s sideline going all the way to the Derry net. Sean Woods tagged on a point before captain Jude Bryson opened the St Columb’s account with a point after 16 minutes.
The teams tradeed points before the break to leave it 1-2 to 0-2 at the change of ends.
Bryson and Somhairle McFadden made it a one-point game on the restart. Although Darragh Geraghty responded with a point, scores from Tiarnan McFeely and Bryson levelled the tie with 10 minutes to go.
Keady looked as if they were in the driving seat with points over the next five minutes from Woods and Jack Loughran, but Liam Meenan and McFeely put a hold on celebrations.
Bryson’s point and the McFeely goal then gave the city boys control, but McNaughton from play and Woods and Rafferty from frees set up that late late smash-and-grab.
St Patrick’s S óg McNaughton and J Loughran 1-1 each, S Woods 0-3, L Rafferty 0-2, D Geraghty 0-1.
St Columb’s T McFeely 1-2, J Bryson 0-4, S McFadden 0-2, L Meenan 0-1
By Séamas McAleenan Published in The Irish News January 31, 2025